Cherryville, NC

Located in Gaston county, Cherryville is a short drive from the Charlotte area.  Being a Sunday, the only day off my husband could get on this 4th of July holiday weekend, nothing was open but I must go back!!  About every building in the downtown has historic interest and is occupied with my favorite type of business: an antique or vintage shop.  These were not junk shops ... the window fronts beckoned me with unique furniture pieces, quality antiques and must have collectibles.  There is also the Cherryville Historical Museum that looked of great interest. www.visitgaston.org/gaston-county-attractions/item/cherryville-historical-museum

We wandered around a bit then getting hungry drove a short distance to Parkway House Family Restaurant.  Housed in what was once obviously a chain steak joint I expected a dark interior with lots of variations of the color brown but was delighted instead to find a bright cheery decor when I entered.  The menu is extensive with almost every possible dish you can think of: including pizza, Italian, Greek, burgers, sandwiches, Calabash style seafood, soups, salads, and every Southerner's favorite: meat and 2 veggies plate.  Service was friendly, prices were reasonable, servings were ample and best of all I enjoyed the food.

How do we top off a great meal?!  With sweet muscadine and dessert wines at Fiddler's Vineyard a short drive from the downtown area of Cherryville.  the www.fiddlersvineyard.com  Our host was a hoot and we sampled for free every flavored wine you could think of : chocolate, pina colada, banana split, watermelon ... all sweet and delicious.  They do offer a few drier wines but their specialty is definitely on the sweeter side.  The grapes are grown on the premise.  The grounds are very pretty and they often have live music on the weekends.  

I couldn't ask for a more perfect way to spend the end of the holiday weekend than hanging out under a big shade tree sipping Pina Colada wine and shooting the breeze with my husband.